UK’s Division of Crisis Management & Preparedness Offers New Business Continuity Program to Departments on Campus

LEXINGTON, Ky, (Aug. 29, 2012) ― University of Kentucky Police Department’s Division of Crisis Management & Preparedness (CMP) invites the campus community and its stakeholders to become involved in an enhanced Business Continuity Program.  The program, facilitated by Laurel Wood, business continuity coordinator, encourages each department, whether academic or service in nature, to become better prepared to respond to various types of operational interruptions. 

With growing support from UK administrators and department heads for a Business Continuity Program, the realization of risks affecting the university has become apparent, from disasters and events that could disrupt teaching, research, extension services, and health care.  These risks can be all encompassing (major earthquake, ice and snow, pandemic illness, terrorism) or localized (fire in a specific building) or personal (failure of a hard drive). 

“Because disasters often cause loss of life, loss of income, property damage and adversely affect individuals and families, the university must make plans to continue its critical work no matter what happens," Wood said. "Some departments, particularly on UK’s campus, will be expected not only to continue but to expand their services during these times.”

The expectation of CMP is that each college, department, or administrative unit will develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to ensure maximum service levels are maintained and help departments recover as quickly as possible.   The BCP template is available for download and submission on CMP's website.

Because UK is such a complex and diverse organization, a simple and single set of actions and measures of progress for the university is not sufficient to capture every important goal for individual units.  That is why it is essential for BCP implementation to take place at the department level, where the process should be thought-provoking but not time consuming, and individualized to provide the following benefits:

1. Serves as a guide for UK Police and CMP in emergency planning and response;

2.  Helps reduce or mitigate disruptions to operations, the loss of life, and property damage or loss;

3.  Executes an order of succession in the event a disruption renders the university and/or departmental leadership unable, unavailable, or incapable of assuming and performing their authorities and responsibilities of the office;

4.  Ensures that each department has facilities from which it can continue to perform its emergency support functions and mission essential functions;

5.  Protects essential facilities, equipment, records, and other assets;

6.  Identifies alternate sources for supplies, resources and locations;

7.  Identifies vendors and customers that must be notified in the event of a disaster;

8.  Provides procedures and resources needed to assist in a timely and orderly recovery and reconstitution from an emergency; and

9.  Validates continuity readiness through a dynamic and integrated test, training and exercise program by documenting and reviewing recovery procedures.

To schedule a presentation, informal discussion, or appointment to assist in completing a Business Continuity Plan, you may contact Laurel Wood at 257-6655 or laurel.wood@uky.edu.